Kinsman's Oath [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Krinard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2004

In her popular novella in the New York Times bestselling Out of this World anthology, Susan Krinard created a futuristic world of humans, telepaths, and an alien race called the shaauri. Now, she returns to that future galaxy with a captivating tale about two telepaths who have nothing in common--except the love they share for each other.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two telepaths from very different backgrounds find love in Krinard's elaborate futuristic romance, which revisits the complex world she created in "Kinsman," her short story contribution to the Out of this World (2001) anthology. Those who are familiar with this futuristic landscape may enjoy this imaginative tale, but others will likely feel one step behind from the first page. In the opening scene, young Ronan VelKalevi is captured by the beast-like Shaauri, a race reviled by humankind. As a grown man, Ronan finally escapes from the Shaauri with the help of Cynara D'Accorso, captain of the spaceship Pegasus. Ronan and Cynara are both misfits-he's distinctly human but he's been taught by the Shaauri to despise his own kind, and she's a strong woman who hails from a planet where women are second-class citizens. Cynara and Ronan prod each other's minds and connect in an erotic way, but it soon becomes apparent that Ronan has been programmed to kill a prominent human leader. The affair between Ronan and Cynara, while compelling, is too often overshadowed by the politics of Krinard's world. Overpopulated and overstuffed with exposition, this book isn't likely to achieve the popularity of the author's Wolf romances (To Catch a Wolf, etc.).
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From Booklist

Captain Cynara D'Accorso, fearless leader of the spaceship Pegasus, comes to a place where women are barely considered people and are forced to hide their faces behind veils. But through a strange twist of fate, Cynara has inherited a title and command of her own vessel. She offers sanctuary to Ronan, a handsome but badly scarred human who's fleeing the dreaded shaauri, ferocious cat-like warriors who abducted him as a child. Cynara's crew doesn't necessarily agree with their captain's decision: they worry that Ronan might be one of the traitorous Kinsmen. As Cynara develops feelings for the mysterious refugee, evidence begins to surface that her crew's suspicions might be correct. Krinard, known for her imaginative paranormal romances, including The Forest Lord (2002) and To Catch a Wolf [BKL S 15 03], has penned a fantastic futuristic romance complete with political intrigue and out-of-this-world adventure. Filled with intricate details of other worlds, species, and cultures, this is sure to appeal to a crossover audience, especially fans of such authors as J. D. Robb and Maggie Shayne. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Sensation (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425196550
• ISBN-13: 978-0425196557
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Intelligent Escape Novel, August 7, 2004

By 

A reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kinsman's Oath (Mass Market Paperback)

A hallmark of Susan Krinard's writing is a significantly deeper level of psychological exploration than the typical escape novelist offers. Kinsman's Oath provides an abundance of psychological exploration. The role of a telepath, seen particularly in the two lead characters, stems from more than the desire for mental connection that many people seek. Three psychological issues that Krinard explores are self-identity, manipulation of memory, and cultural conditioning. Some issues are explored more skillfully than others. In addition to the psychological issues mentioned, many additional themes are entwined throughout the story. Being classified as a romance novel, love is one of the additional themes.

If you're looking to escape into a simple, rather superficial story that doesn't require much thought, the choices are bountiful, and Kinsman's Oath might not be what you're looking for. If you enjoy reading high quality fiction / literature, yet wish to escape every so often without sacrificing intelligence, then you may find Kinsman's Oath to be an enjoyable reading experience.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful OUT OF THIS WORLD science fiction romance, April 29, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kinsman's Oath (Mass Market Paperback)

Two decades ago, war between humanity and the Shaauri broke out. Most of the Kinsmen, humans with telepathic abilities, supported the Shaauri against their own kind. Abductions were not uncommon and a young Ronan velKalevi was taken as a lad by the Shaauri during the early days of the conflict

Now Ronan tries to escape from his captivity. Blockade runner Captain Cynara D'Accorso of the Pegasus sees Ronan flee a Shaauri warship, but though her better judgment says to stay out of this potentially dangerous scenario, she rescues him. When she realizes he is telepathic she becomes concerned because many of those with that skill joined the enemy. Though extremely attracted to him, she wonders if he is a mole sent out to stop activities like hers. Ronan, unused to human contact finds himself in love with his rescuer, but is not sure how to prove he wants to be on her side.

Returning to the "Kinsman" universe that she first described in an OUT OF THIS WORLD novella, Susan Krinard furbishes science fiction romance readers with a wonderful tale of a future in space marred by armed conflict. The delightful story line hooks readers of both genres with its descriptive insight into a galaxy under siege while also providing two wonderful characters wondering whether they should be loving partners or disillusioned antagonists. Fans of the author will appreciate this fine futuristic adventure tale though there is not a werewolf within a zillion light-years of this novel.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Susan Krinard has just won herself a new fan!, October 11, 2004

By 

Aimee "reader extraordinaire" (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kinsman's Oath (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow! I am blown away! Excellent book! Susan Krinard has created a vivid and compelling futuristic world with fascinating and belivably complex societies. Each planet -- even the ones that belong to the same unifiying government -- has its own unique personality, flavor, and society. They all feel organic and real, as well as being original and unique. The alien culture of the Shaauri is fascinating too, as well as feeling convincingly alien. Krinard does not fall prey to the same trap many science fiction writers find themselves in -- the Shaauri are original and new and truly alien; they aren't simply a human culture reworked with new names. Really amazing world-building here.

The characters too were complex individuals, with a psychological complexity and depth that made them all a joy to read about. These were real, three-dimensional people, in all their contradictory human (or alien, as the case may be) glory.

The plot was also fabulous, a complicated blend of action, intrigue, and politics that kept me turning the pages furiously! Kinsman's Oath was complex, thought-provoking, and deep, dealing with issues of self-identity and the way one's sense of self is influenced by one's culture, one's memory, and one's family -- and the way all of these things can be manipulated when you live in a world peopled with telepaths.

All in all, this was a marvelous book! A great read! I'm going to look for Krinard's other novels; she has just gained a new fan!